Ring coiling and cut-off machine



April 1963 A. TODORAN ET AI.

RING comm; AND CUT-OFF MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 1, 1958HYDRAULIC POWER UNIT SNG

mmu

3 W mm 0 IIIIRIJIiU BY ROGER A. MOTTER ATTORNEYS A ril 2, 1963 A.TODORAN EI'AL RING COILING AND CUT-OFF MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledJuly 1, 1958 ATTORNEYS ties The present invention, while generallyindicated as relating to a ring coiling and cut-off machine, relatesmore especially to a machine and method for making drop-center wheelrims from preformed stock.

Hitherto, it has been one prevalent practice in the art of makingdrop-center wheel rims to cut flat pieces of strip stock topredetermined length, to form the same into cylindrical bands, to weldthe ends of the bands together, and to form the Welded hands intofinished rims by spinning and press operations and final sizing (orexpanding) operations.

Another prevalent practice in the rim making art, primarily applicableto bicycle wheel rims and the like that have a relatively large diameterto width ratio (small helix angle), is to wind preformed strip stock asa closely coiled helix, to slit the coiled stock into one-turn helicalrings, and to laterally displace and weld together the ends of saidone-turn rings. However, as to automobile wheel rims, this practiceinvolves the extra operation of flattening the helical coils before theends thereof can be welded together. A currently popular size of autowheel rim is 14" in diameter and the distance across the rim flanges maybe 6" or more. Obviously, it is no simple matter to laterally displacethe ends of such a helical coil to bring the ends into juxtaposition forwelding.

Attempts have been made to roll preformed lengths of strip stock intocircular form but considerable difficulty has been encountered incurving the terminal end portions to the final required curvature.Accordingly, it has been found necessary to provide preformed stock oflength greater than the circumference of the rim to allow for trimmingoff of the straight end portions that result from the use of roll setsfor bending preformed stock to ring shape.

With the foregoing in mind, it is one principal object of this inventionto provide a machine and method by which drop center wheel rims and thelike may be accurately and economically made'from preformed straightstock of indefinite length.

It is another object of this invention to provide a complete setup formaking wheel rims and the like continuously from a coil of fiat stripstock, said setup including an uncoiler which carries the coil of fiatstrip stock; a roll-forming mill which is operative to transform theflat strip stock to cross-section shape corresponding to the radialcross-section of the wheel rim to be made, and a coiling and cut-offmachine which is operative to bend the preformed stock to circular ringform and to cut-off the ring from the adjoining unbent length ofpreformed stock.

It is another object of this invention to provide a setup as aforesaid,which is completely automatic in operation to transform coiled flatstrip stock into drop-center wheel rims and the like, that are ready forwelding together of the abutting ends thereof.

It is another object of this invention to provide a ring coiling andcut-off machine and method which produces flat rings having a uniformradius of curvature from end to end and without scrap loss at eitherend.

It is another object of this invention to provide a machine of thecharacter indicated which employs a novel atent cut-off mechanismeffective to cleanly sever the ring and adjoining unbent preformed stockat the point of tangency.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a ring coiling andcut-off machine and method in which straight preformed stock is pushedlongitudinally into and through an open-ended, longitudinally curved diecavity having a radial cross-section conforming with that of the stockand with that of the finished ring.

it is yet another object of this invention to provide a ring coiling andcut-off machine and method in which preformed stock is bent to ring formby pushing it longitudinally into and through an open-ended,longitudinally curved die cavity and in which the ring thus formed iscut from the preformed stock at or near the point of tangency of thecurved stock and the straight stock adjacent to the inlet end of the diecavity.

It is another object of this invention to provide an apparatus andmethod for producing drop-center wheel rims and the like at a rapid ratewith fewer pieces of apparatus,

less floor space, and fewer man hours than are required with knownmethods for producing such rims.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent as the following description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foreging and related ends, the invention,then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described andparticularly pointed out in the claims, the following description andthe annexed drawings setting forth in detail a certain illustrativeembodiment of the invention, this bein indicative, however, of but oneof the various ways in which the principle of the invention may beemployed.

In said annexed drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view showing a preferred setup for producingdrop-center wheel rims from a coil of fiat strip stock, an uncoilerbeing shown at the right, a roll-forming machine being shown at themiddle, and a ring ceiling and cut-otf machine being shown at the left;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the ring coiling and cutoff machine hereinand of the last roll stand from which the preformed stock islongitudinally pushed into the ring ceiling and cut-off machine;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the ring coiling and cut-off machine,the machine being shown in its normal operating position with the end ofthe preformed stock being bent to form a ring;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation View similar to FIG. 3, except showing themachine in open position with the cut-off ring stripped from the curveddies;

FIG. 5 is a cross-section view taken substantially along the line 55,FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a cross-section view taken substantially along the line 6-6,FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary top plan view as viewed substantially along theline 77, FIG. 3; and

FIG. 8 is a crosssection view taken substantially along the line 3-8,FIG. 6.

THE RIM-FORMING SETUP AS A WHOLE (FlGS. 1 and 2) Basically, the setup asshown in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes an uncoiler l on which a coil C of flatstri stock S is rotatably mounted. The flat strip stock S is unwoundfrom the coil C and passes through a guide 2 and thence through aroll-forming mill 3 which may comprise a series of roll stands 4 eachequipped with power-drive-n roll sets 5 to progressively transform thestock S from list form to final desired cross-section shape. The numberof roll stands 4 required depends, of course, on the intricacy of thecross-section shape to which the stock S is to be rolled and in the caseof stock to be used in making drop-center whee-l rims, as herein, it hasbeen found that a line of about twelve roll stands 4 is adaquate to form(see FIG. 6) the longitudinally extending rib 6 which, in the finishedwheel rim, constitutes the dropcenter well and to form the rim flanges 7against which the tire beads are adapted to be seated. From the lastroll stand 4 the formed stock S is pushed longitudinally into the ringcoiling and cut-off machine 8.

Insofar as the uncoiler 1, guide 2, and roll-forming mill 3 areconcerned, these components do not form any part of this inventionexcept that power for longitudinally pushing the formed stock S into andthrough the dies of the machine 8 is derived from the roll forming mill3.

RING COILING AND CUT-OFF MACHINE (FIGS. 3 to 8) (a) The Base and DieBlocks The ring coiling and cut-01f machine 8 is built on an open frontbox-like base 9 including upstanding end Walls 10 and 11, an upstandingrear wall 12, and a top wall 14.

The end wall 11 has welded thereto a bracket 15 to which a die holder 16is pivotally mounted on pin 17. Adjustably seated in the die holder 16is the die shoe r block 18 which is formed with an arcuate die face 19which is of radial cross-section conforming with the crosssection of thepreformed strip S. In this case, the die block 18 is the male die andfits in between the rim flanges 7 and in the well or tunnel 6 of thepreformed stock S.

'In FIG. 3 the die block 18 and its holder 16 are shown in operatingposition with one end of the arcuate die face 19 tangent to thelongitudinal path of travel of the preformed stock S. The holder 16 islocked in this position by means of the toggle linkage 20 of which thetop and bottom links are pivotally mounted respectively to the dieholder 16 by the pin 21 and to a bracket 23 on the base 9 by the pin 24.The die holder -16 is swung down to the FIG. 4 open position as by meansof the hydraulic cylinder 25 having its piston rod 26 linked to the kneejoint 27 of the toggle linkage 20, the cylinder 25 being mounted ontrunnions 28 on the end wall 10 of the base 9. When the cylinder 25 isextended, as shown in FIG. 3, the toggle linkage 20 is in lockedposition thereby immovably securing the die holder 16 and the die block18 in operating position. When the cylinder 25 is actuated to move thepiston therein toward the left, the toggle linkage 20 is collapsed toswing the die holder 16 and die block 18 in a counterclockwise directionabout the pin 17 to the position shown in FIG. 4.

Opposite the die block 18 is the female die block or shoe 30 which isformed with an arcuate die face 31 concentric With the arcuate die face19 and arranged to embrace the rim flanges 7 and well 6 of the preformedstock S. As best shown in FIG. 3, the complementary opposed arcuate diefaces 19 and 31 of the respective die blocks 18 and 30 definetherebetween an arcuate die cavity which is open at both ends and whichhas a cross-section the same as the cross-section of the preformed stockS. The die faces 19 and 3-1 have a radius of curvature which is the sameas the radius of curvature of the finished wheel rim which is to beformed by the machine.

With the parts of the machine 8 in the position shown in FIG. 3, thepreformed stock S as it emerges from the last roll stand 4 will-bepushed longitudinally into the inlet end of the arcuate die cavitydefined between the concentric die faces 19 and 31 of the die blocks 18and 30. As the stock S is pushed longitudinally through the die cavityit will be bent to a radius corresponding with the radius of the diefaces 19 and 31 and the free end will travel in a circular loop thatapproaches the inlet end of the die cavity. The free end of the loopafter it emerges from the die cavity is guided by the rollers 32, 33,and 34 of which the last-mentioned roller 34 constitutes a pusher rollas hereinafter explained. I

(b) The Die Block Indexing Mechanism The die block 30 is keyed to thefront end of shaft 35 that is rotatably supported in a boss 36 of rearwall 12 of the base 9 about the axis of the die faces 19 and 31 forindexing of the die block 30 to three positions, viz., the operatingposition shown in FIG. 3, the rim cut-off position shown in dot-dashlines in FIG. 3, and the rim unload position shown in FIG. 4.

There is a rotary fluid motor 37 and an indexing mechanism 38operatively associated with the rear end of the shaft 35. The shaft 35and die block 30 are held in the FIG. 3 operating position, as by meansof a plunger 39 which is releasably engaged in a notch 40 formed in acollar 41 keyed on the shaft 35 by the hydraulic cylinder 42. When it isdesired to release the shaft 35 and die block 30 for rotary indexingmovement, the cylinder 42 is actuated to retract the plunger 39 towardthe left as viewed in FIG. 8 whereupon the shaft 35 and die block 30 maybe rotated clockwise as viewed in FIG. 3 (counterclockwise as viewed inFIG. 8), until the plunger 43 actuated by the cylinder 44 pops intoanother notch 45 of the collar 41 to lock the shaft at its thus newlyindexed position. When both plungers 39 and 43 are withdrawn from therespective notches 40 and 45, the rotary fluid motor 37 may be energizedto rotate the shaft 35 and die block 30 to the position shown in FIG. 4whereat stop lug 46 on shaft 35 contacts stop pad 47.

(c) The Cut- Ofi Mechanism As best shown in FIG. 3, the die block 30carries a cut-off blade 50 which cooperates with a movable cutoff blade51 to shear the preformed stock S after the end portion thereof has beenformed into a ring. The movable cut-off blade 51 is carries by a slideblock 52 which is vertically slidable in a guideway 53 formed in the dieholder '16 and has a cutting edge 54 which moves in a path normal to thepoint of tangency of the curved stock and the adjoining unbent stock.Movement of the block 52 and blade 51 vertically is effected as by meansof the hydraulic cylinder 56 and toggle linkage 57, of which one link 58is pivotally connected to the block 52 by means of the pin 59 and ofwhich the other link 60 is pivotally connected on a bracket 61 of thebase 9 by pin 62, the knee joint 63 being pivotally secured at the endof the piston rod 64 of said hydraulic cylinder 56. In turn, thecylinder 56 is pivotally mounted by pin 65 to a bracket 67 extendinginwardly from the adjacent end wall 11.

It now can be seen that when the shaft 35 and die block 30 have beenturned to bring the right-hand cutting edge 68 of the blade 50 inalignment with the left-hand cutting edge 54 of the movable blade 51,movement of the piston rod 64 toward the right as viewed in FIG. 3 will,through the toggle linkage 57, cause the blade 51 of block 52. to movevertically upward to overlap the blade 50' to shear the stock S at thepoint of tangency between the straight length of stock S and theadjoining curved portions thereof.

The turning or indexing of the die block 30 from operating position toring cut-off position as aforesaid is done by the free end of the curvedloop. As the free end of the curved stock 5 approaches the side of thedie block 30 carrying the cut-off blade 50, it actuates a limit switch70 which, in turn, as to be explained in detail, causes the plunger 39to be retracted from the notch 40. The shaft 35 and die block 30 arethus freed for clockwise movement by the free end of the loop of stockas it moves in contact with the right-hand side face of the blade 50. Atthe same time, the cylinder '44 has been actuated to tend to force theplunger 43 inwardly whereupon, as soon as the other notch 45 is alignedwith the plunger 43, the shaft 35 and die block 30 Will be locked in theindexed cut-off position in which the right-hand side 68 of the blade 50is in alignment with the left-hand side 54 of the movable blade 51.

The turning of the shaft 35 and the die block 30 by the free end of thecurved stock S to cutting position actuates another limit switch 71which does two things, viz.,

(1) Deenergizes the roll-forming machine 3 whereby the lineal movementof the preformed stock S stops, and

(2) Actuates the cylinder 56 to move the piston rod 64 toward the rightto. move the cutter blade 51 upwardly through the straightening of thetoggle linkage 57 to shear the curve portion of the stock from thestraight portion at the point of tangency.

(d) Unloading of Cut-O19 Ring At the conclusion of the ring cut-offoperation, the link 58 actuates limit switch 72 to reverse the cylinder56 to collapse the toggle linkage 57 and thereby to draw the cut-offblade 51 downwardly. The actuation of limit switch 72 also actuatescylinder 25 to collapse toggle linkage 20 and thereby swing the dieholder 16 and die block 18 in a counterclockwise direction about the pin17 to strip the die block '18 from the cut-off ring. The actuation ofsaid limit switch 72 also releases plunger 43 from notch 45 and actuatesrotary fluid motor 37 to turn the shaft 35 and die block 38 to theposition shown in FIG. 4, such turning being arrested by engagement ofstop lug 46 with stop pad 47.

The roller 34 previously referred to is mounted on a carrier 73 equippedwith guide bars 74 that are slidable in hushed eyes 75 on bracket 15,the carrier 73 being reciprocated between the FIG. 3 and FIG. 4positions by cylinder 76. In the FIG. 3 position, the roller 34constitutes a guide roller along with rollers 32 and 33 and when theroller 34 is shifted to the FIG. 4 position it constitutes a pusher rollto laterally shift the cut-off ring clear of the free end of thestraight preformed stock S and to strip the cut-01f ring from the dieblock 30. The limit switch 72 also controls actuation of cylinder 76.

With the wheel rim thus laterally shifted, the carrier 73 actuates alimit switch 78 to extend the hydraulic cylinder 79 which has its pistonrod 80 guided in a bracket 81 at the-top of the base '9 and linked to ahorizontally slidable shaft 82-which carries a downwardly extending arm83 provided with a bearing 8410 support the free end of the shaft 35 onwhich the die block 30 is mounted. The arm 83 has an ejector finger 85which draws the wheel rim axially toward the open front of the machinebase 9 for dropping clear of the die blocks '18 and 30.

Thereafter, the cylinder 79 is actuated to bring the arm 83 back so thatits bearing 84 supports the free end of the shaft 35 and so that theejector finger-85 is to the rear of the next wheel rim to be formed; thepusher roll 34 is retracted to the FIG. 3 position; the shaft 35 and dieblock 30 are turned counterclockwise to the FIG. 3 position by rotaryfluid motor 37; and the cylinder 25 is actuated to move the piston rod26 toward the right to lock up the toggle linkage 20 thereby bringingthe die holder !16 and die block 18 to operating position. The rollforming machine 3 may be actuated an instant before the shifting of dieblock 18 to push the free end of the preformed stock S into the diecavity entrance to form the next rim. These operations are initiated bythe tripping of the limit switch 77 when the unloader shaft 82 has movedforward to the dot-dash line position shown in FIG. 6.

the forming mill 3, with the movable shear blade 51 in down position,with the pusher roll 34 extended, as in FIG. 4 and with'the ejectorfinger 85- in its forward unload position the sequence of operations isas follows:

(1) The forming mill 3 energized by limit switch 77 starts to advancethe preformed stock S.

(2) After a time delay of say, 0.2 see. the bottom die block 18 is movedup to the FIG. 3 operating position through the action of the cylinder25 and toggle linkage 20. Such upward swinging of the bottom die block18 (after retraction of arm 83 to support shaft 35) forces the leadingend of the formed stock S into a radius between the mating top andbottom die blocks 30 and 18. The pusher roll 34 is retracted through theaction of the strip stock while serving as a ring guide together withcylinder 76 to clear the oncoming free end] of the curved the guiderolls 32 and 33.

(3) As the straight preformed stock S is pushed longitudinally from thelast roll stand 4, the free end thereof advances through the open-endedcurved die cavity defined between the arcuate die faces 19 and 31 of thedie blocks 18 and 30 and emerges therefrom in accurately curved form.

(4) The free end of the curved stock, as it approaches the top die block30, engages the limit switch 70 which switch, in turn, through cylinder42 causes a retraction of the plunger 39 from notch 48 to allow theapproaching free end of the ring to turn the die block 30 until the side68 of the blade 50 is in vertical cut-off position, at which positionthe die block 30 is indexed by the plunger 43 popping into the notch 45of the shaft 35.

(5) At this indexed cut-off position of the die block 30, it actuatesthe limit switch '71 to deenergize the forming mill 3 and to actuate thecylinder 56 .to move the block 52 and the blade 51 carried therebyvertically upward and across the vertical face 68 of the cutting blade58 to cleanly sever the ring from the formed stock S at the point oftangency between the ring and the adjoining straight stock.

(6) When the movable blade 51 reaches the top of its stroke, the link 58actuates the limit switch 72 which reverses the cylinder 56 to cause theblade 51 to move down. The actuation of said limit switch 72 alsoreverses the cylinder 25 to collapse the toggle linkage 28 and therebymove the bottom die block 18 downwardly to strip the same from severedring.

(7) The actuation of the switch 72 also causes the top die block 30 torotate through the action of the rotary fluid motor 37 in a directionaway from the forming mill 3, to the position shown in FIG. 4, and thecylinder 76 is actuated to cause the pusher roll 34 to shift the severedring toward the left to thus strip it from the top die block 30.

(8) After a predetermined time delay, say, 0.1 sec., the cylinder 79 isactuated to move the ejector finger axially outward with respect to thedie blocks 18 and 30 to allow the severed ring to drop clear of themachine ready for performance of the butt-weldingoperation to form acompleted drop center wheel rim.

(9) When the ejector shaft 82 has reached its forward position itactuates the limit switch 77 which, through rotary fluid motor 37,indexes the die block 30 to its starting position, the plunger 39 beingadvanced by cylinder 42 to pop into the notch 40 to lock the shaft 35and die block 30 in operating position.

The foregoing operations are then repeated to form the next wheel rim.

' It is to be understood that there will be associated with the severalhydraulic cylinders 25, 42, 44, 56, 76,and 79 and rotary fluid motor 37suitable solenoid operated four-way valves (not shown) to control thedirection of actuation thereof in response to the tripping of theseveral limit switches 70, 71, 72, 77, and 78. As evident from thepreceding description of the operation of the ring coiling and cut-offmachine 8 the limit switches may have "multiple contacts to operate oneor more of the valves at the same time or, if preferred, the limitswitches may be arranged to energize relay coils to move contactors thatopen and close the circuits through the valve solenoids. Insofar as thetime delay periods are concerned these may be in the form of dashpots inthe switches or 7 separate timing devices connected either in theelectrical circuit or in the hydraulic circuit.

From the foregoing description of the construction operation of apreferred form of the ring coiling and cutoff machine 8, it is clearthat rings such as wheel rims, may be rapidly and accurately formedwithout scrap loss, or without the spinning or press-forming operationsheretofore performed in the manufacture of drop-center wheel rims, orwithout flattening operations as required when preformed stock ishclically coiled, or without requiring trimming or cropping of unbentends as results from ordinary ring rolling operations wherein straightstrip stock is passed between a series of staggered rollers.

With respect to the rapidity and the economy of manufacture, it is to benoted that the present apparatus is simple in comparison wi h p e s a pnn n l n s n r quires less floor space with fewer operating personnel.Specifically, the number of personnel may be cut down to about one-thirdwith the present method and apparatus to achieve a specified rate ofproduction of wheel rims.

Other modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed,change being made as regards the details described, provided thefeatures stated in any of the following claims, or the equivalent ofsuch, be employed.

We therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as ourinvention 1. In a machine for making wheel rims and the like fromelongated stock having a tranverse cross-section cor.- responding withthe radial cross-section of the rim to be made, the combination of dieblocks formed with opposed acruate faces defining therebetween anopen-ended die cavity of rim cross-section into one end of which andthrough which the free end of such elongated stock is adapted to bepushed lengthwise to bend the stock to curved form conforming with theradius of curvature of said opposed face, and stock severing meansoperated by the free end of the loop of curved stock as it approachessaid one end of said cavity to sever the stock at the point of tangencyof the curved portion with the adjoining portion in advance of saidcavity.

2. The machine of claim 1 including means operative relatively to movesaid die blocks away from one an.- other to facilitate insertion of theleading end of the stock into said cavity and toward one another todefine said cavity and to curve the leading end of the stock thusinserted into said one end of said cavity.

3. The machine of claim 1 wherein a stock pusher pushes the stocklongitudinally into said cavity, and where.- in said stock pusher isde-energized responsive to the free end of the loop of stock reachingsaid one end of said cavity wherein said stock severing means iseffective to sever the stock.

.4. The machine of claim 1 wherein said die blocks are mounted forrelative separating movement, and wherein an ejector axially moves thesevered rim from between the separated die blocks.

5. The machine of claim 1 wherein one die block is mounted for movementradially away from the other die 1 991; to strip said one die block fromthe severed ring, wherein said other die block is mounted for rotationabout the axis of said opposed arcuate die faces to a position such thatits arcuate face is circumferentially ofifset with respect to thearcuate face of said one die block, and wherein means are provid d tolaterally shift the severed ring to radially strip it from said otherdie block and to clear the freeend of the adipining stock,

6. The machine of claim 5 wherein ejector means are effective to axiallyshift the severed ring from between said die blocks when in radiallyseparated and circumferentially offset positions as aforesaid.

7. In a machine for making wheel rims and the like from elongated stock,the combination of complemental radially nested die blocks havingopposed .conccntri arcuate faces that define an open-ended curved cavity.of transverse cross-section conforming with that of the *rim to bemade, means for pushing the leading end of elongated stock of thatcross-section into one end of said cavity and therethrough to bend thestock to uniform curvature conforming with that of said cavity, stockcutolf means disposed adjacent to such one end of said cavity andincluding a fixed blade on one die block and a radially movable blade,means supporting said one die block for rotary indexing movement aboutthe axis of said arcuate faces from a position whereat said fixed bladeis circumferentially ahead of said movable blade to a position whereatsaid blades have radially aligned surfaces that are perpendicular to thepoint of tangency of the curved stock and adjoining stock, said one dieblock being arranged to be so indexed by the free end of the loop ofcurved sto k as i omes a o d o form a l i cle rim, and means f r ac uaing s i st k cu -0 m an responsive to such indexing movement of said onedie block to shift said movable blade so as to radially overlap saidfixed blade and thus sever the rim from the adjoining stock.

8. The machine of claim 7 wherein the other die block is mounted forradial outward movement with respect to said one die block to strip saidother die block from the severed rim, and wherein said one die block isarranged for further rotary indexing movement for permitting radialstripping of the severed rim therefrom and for permitting movement ofthe severed rim in a direction to .clear the leading end of theadjoining stock from which the rim was severed.

9, The machine of claim 8 including a movable rim ejector effective todisplace axially the freed rim from between said die blocks.

10. The machine of claim 9 wherein said rim ejector when moved todisplace axially to rim is operative to reinitiate operation of saidmeans for pushing the stock, of moving said other die block for radialinward movement, and of returning said one die block to its originalposition at which said fixed blade is circumferentially ahead of saidmovable blade.

11. The machine of claim 10 wherein toggle linkages are provided forachieving locking of said other block in fixed operating position withrespect to said one die block and for achieving a great mechanicaladvantage in the stock cutting movement of said movable blade.

12. The machine of claim 11 wherein said toggle linkages are actuated byuid motors operatively connected to the knee joints of said togglelinkages.

l3. In combination, an uncoiler from which flat strip stock is unwoundfrom a coil; a forming mill including a series of roll stands throughwhich the stock is passed longitudinally and progressively formed to across-section shape conforming generally with the radial cross-sectionof a drop-center wheel rim and the like; and a coiling and cut-offmachine provided with an open ended arcuate die cavity that has atransverse cross-section generally the same as that of the stock as itemerges from the last roll stand, the formed stock being pushed by theforming mill into one end of said cavity to form a full circle rim andbeing cut-off at the point of tangency of the curved stock and theadjoining stock immediately in advance of said cavity; and meansoperative to interrupt the operation of said forming mill during thecut-off operation,

14. The combination of claim 13 wherein means are provided to radiallyseparate the opposed faces of said cavity to permit radially strippingof the cut-off rim therefrom and subsequent axial removal fromtherebetween.

15. The combination of claim 14 wherein ejector means are provided toaxially displace the cut-otf rim and o ein t a op ra o f s i min m p ioto br i o t e ppo d a e w rd ach ot e e y t e ead n nd of h for St k i Ph d in between such faces and bent to curved form as said faces aremoved toward each other.

'16. In apparatus for forming rings from continuous lengths of elongatedstock including means for advancing such stock longitudinally and a diedisposed to receive such stock and form it in a circle as such stock isthus advanced; cut-oil means operative to cut oft" a ring thus formedfrom the leading end portion of such stock, said cut-01f means beinglocated closely adjacent the entrance end of said die and severing suchstock substantially normal thereto.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, including ejection means operative toeject such severed ring from said die.

18. The apparatus of claim 16', wherein said die comprises twocooperating opposed arcuate die members, means operative intermittentlyto move said die members relatively further apart, and ejection meansthereupon operative to eject such severed ring laterally from betweensaid die members.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said die comprises twocooperating opposed arcuate die members, means operative intermittentlyto move said die members relatively further apart, means operative toshift such severed ring in the direction of travel of the uncircularizedstock, and ejection means thereupon operative to eject such severed ringlaterally from between said die members.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said die comprises twocooperating opposed arcuate die members, means operative intermittentlyto move said die members relatively further apart, and said cut-offmeans comprises one blade mounted on one of said die members and asecond blade mounted for reciprocation relative thereto.

21. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said die comprises twocooperating opposed arcuate die members, means operative intermittentlyto move said die members relatively further apart, said stock advancingmeans being operative to advance the leading end of the cut offuncircularized stock a short distance between said die members prior toreturn of said die members into stock circularizing relationship, andmeans operative thus to return said die members to such relationship topress the leading end portion of the stock to curved form.

22. In apparatus for forming rings from continuous lengths of elongatedstock including means for advancing such stock longitudinally and a diedisposed to receive such stock and form it in a circle as thus advanced;cut-01f means operative to cut oil a ring thus formed from the leadingend portion of such stock, said cut-off means being located at theentrance end of said die, said die comprising two cooperating opposedarcuate die members, means operative intermittently to move said diemembers relatively apart and ejection means thereupon operative to ejectsuch severed ring laterally from between said die members.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 including means operative to shift suchsevered ring in the direction of travel of the uncircularized stock.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said cut-off means comprises oneblade mounted on one said die member and a second blade mounted forreciprocation relative thereto in a plane passing through the center ofsuch coiled stock.

25. In apparatus for forming rings from continuous lengths of elongatedstock including means for advancing such stock longitudinally; a diecomprising two cooperating opposed arcuate die members disposed toreceive such stock and form it in a circle as such stock is thusadvanced, cut-ofi means operative to sever a ring thus formed from theleading end portion of such stock, and means operative to move said diemembers apart axially to clear such ring from said die members, andmeans axially to eject such ring.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS682,070 Hart Sept. 3, 1901 778,472 Beyer Dec. 27, 1904 1,437,628 WulffDec. 5, 1922 1,698,083 Booth Ian. 8, 1929 1,719,250 Walstrom July 2,1929 1,762,556 Marshall June 10, 1930 1,835,589 Bond Dec. 8, 19312,214,025 Larson Sept. 10, 1940 2,353,925 Pattison July 18, 19442,393,804 Nigro Jan. 29, 1946 2,675,849 Greenshields et a1. Apr. 20,1954 2,698,642 Melina Jan. 4, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 637,809 Great BritainMay 24, 1950

1. IN A MACHINE FOR MAKING WHEEL RIMS AND THE LIKE FROM ELONGATED STOCKHAVING A TRANVERSE CROSS-SECTION CORRESPONDING WITH THE RADIALCROSS-SECTION OF THE RIM TO BE MADE, THE COMBINATION OF DIE BLOCKSFORMED WITH OPPOSED ARCUATE FACES DEFINING THEREBETWEEN AN OPEN-ENDEDDIE CAVITY OF RIM CROSS-SECTION INTO ONE END OF WHICH AND THROUGH WHICHTHE FREE END OF SUCH ELONGATED STOCK IS ADAPTED TO BE PUSHED LENGTHWISETO BEND THE STOCK TO CURVED FORM CONFORMING WITH THE RADIUS OF CURVATUREOF SAID OPPOSED FACE, AND STOCK SEVERING MEANS OPERATED BY THE FREE ENDOF THE LOOP OF CURVED STOCK AS IT APPROACHES SAID ONE END OF SAID CAVITYTO SEVER THE STOCK AT THE POINT OF TANGENCY OF THE CURVED PORTION WITHTHE ADJOINING PORTION IN ADVANCE OF SAID CAVITY.